The Magic Water and the Special Fruit

Once upon a time, in a faraway kingdom, there were a noble man and a king who had always been best friends since birth. They grew up together, promising that they would have their children marry each other in the future. On one faithful day, the king’s wife bore a boy and the man’s wife bore a girl. They grew up happily together like their fathers did. Wherever the boy went, the girl would follow, and vice versa. As kids, they would fight sometimes, but always made up after an hour. Their friendship was admired by everyone. Fifteen years after their births, the boy became a young prince who believed in justice and the girl became a pure and innocent maiden. Then, like a bee and a flower who have found each other, they fell in love. The adults were delighted to hear the news, especially the noble man and the king. A wedding was going to be celebrated but then the unthinkable happened.

The kingdom had gotten into a war with its allied country and the enemy’s army was getting closer to the city. To avoid massive deaths, the king ordered everyone to leave their houses and move to a safer land, including the maiden’s family. The young couple could not do anything but to be separated. The prince had to stay to protect the kingdom and the girl had to leave. The night before departure, they met together at the palace’s garden for one last time.

“I have something for you, my love,” the prince said.

“What is it your highness?” the maiden said, wondering.

“Since we might not see each other for a long time, it is something that will let me recognize you,” the prince replied confidently. Then, he pulled out a bottle of yellow liquid from his pocket and gently poured it onto the girl’s silky, brown hair. Surprisingly, the water dried very quickly.

“From now on, whenever you walk out into the sun, your hair color will turn blonde, and that will let me know if the person is you or not,” he said.

The maiden was deeply touched. She gazed at him for very long time, not knowing what to say. Then, she gave him a goodbye kiss with teary eyes.

While staying away from the war, the damsel’s parents had died due to a cureless disease and she was adopted by her aunt. The woman and her daughter were always jealous of the maiden’s beauty, especially when she stepped out into the sun because her hair would turn blonde. Despite having an unfamiliar color, she actually looked more beautiful with it. Therefore, they would always assign the maiden with difficult tasks, hoping that they would ruin her beauty, but it never happened. Every day, no matter whether the weather was cold or hot, they would order her to get water from the river located one hour away from home and boil it so they could take a bath. The maiden had to wake up early in the morning to make breakfasts for her aunt and cousin but could only have piece of bread with warm milk for herself. Every night, she had to massage them until they told her to stop. Despite all the hardships and loneliness she had to face, the maiden was always cheerful and happy, knowing that she would get to meet her prince again in the future.

After ten years of fighting, the country had won over its enemy and everyone started moving back to the city. The maiden was thrilled to see her lover again. At dinner, she told her aunt and cousin about the promise she had made with the prince and how he would be able to recognize her after years of separation. Once again, the jealousy grew in the two evil mother and daughter. They made a plan that would change their lives forever.

The next morning, knowing that the prince would visit the house very soon, they forced the maiden to stay in the dark attic with no windows; where no sunlight could seep through. They ordered her to stay in there until she was told to go out. The poor damsel could not do anything but to wait in the dark with just a candle to light.

After hearing the news that his lover was back, the prince rushed to her house. Instead of seeing his father’s best friend and the rest of the family, he found an old woman and a young lady sitting in the living room.